Armed people reported on board migrants' boat off Greece
Cargo ship believed to be carrying hundreds of migrants near the Greek island of Corfu sends out a distress signal
File photo by John Pisani
As many as 700 asylum seekers are thought to be on a cargo ship off the Greek island of Corfu which sent out a distress signal saying armed people were on board on Tuesday.
Two Greek officials confirmed that a distress signal had been received from the Moldovan-flagged Blue Sky M but did not give further details on the message.
A Greek frigate, a coastguard vessel and a military helicopter were heading to the area, they added.
"We have information that it is carrying suspected migrants. It is sailing off Corfu," a shipping ministry official said.
